Knitting machine and method



June 1941- R. c. AMlDON 2,243,850

' KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 28, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3 1 waif/0'0 June 3, 1941. R. c. AMIDON KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 28, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 "i H01. C AmicZ June 3, 1941. R. c. AMIDON 2,243,850

KNITTING mcums AND METHOD Filed Aug 28. 1959 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,243,850 i I v KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Roy 0. Amidon, St. Johnsville, N. Y. Application'August 28, 1939, Serial No. 292,360

, 25 Claims.

My present invention, which relates to the -art of knitting, has special relation to that branch of the art in which the knitting function is performed through a previously woven base fabric or other suitable sheet material.

The invention particularly has for an object to so improve the machine and method disclosed in my Letters Patent $12,136,368 of November 15, 1938, that relatively fine needles may be used to provide as many courses of knitting per inch as possible. Experience has shown that when a large number of fine needles per inchare employed, some of the needles occasionally bend or break, which of course makes it necessary to stop the machine to replace the damaged needles.

This bending or breaking of the needles may be caused by wear, or by knots in the thread, or by the weft threads of the base fabric being out of parallelism or out of step with the needles; my present invention, therefore, has for an object to provide means and a method of operation ,whereby such bending or breaking of the.

needles is practically eliminated and the strains heretofore encountered by the needles in penetrating the base fabric are eliminated.

Again, it is an object to provide a method and means of knitting through a base fabric in such a way as to effect openings in the fabric for the needles to pass through and to relieve the needles of their fabric-puncturing function.

Further, it is an objectto provide a machine with automatically actuated awls that perform dual functions, 1. e., that of opening passages in the base fabric for the needles and that of guiding the needles through the passages opened in the base fabric.

Again, it is an object to provide a machine with automatically actuated awls which, by a simple adjustment, may be caused to perform a third function, namely, that of a beard presser, thereby permitting the elimination of the usual beard presser bars that are usually located directly over the'sinker-nibs.

A still further object is to provide a machine in which groups of the three-function-perforniing awls may in part be operated by adjustable means by which any one or more groups of awls may be deflected so as to eliminate, for a desired time, their third function when desired, as will more fully appear later.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the above objects and ends the invention still further resides in those novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the detailed description and then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the. accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a cross section of a machine which embodies the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of one unit of sinker nibs and the actuating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of one unit of the needle bar and its needles, together with the mechanism for operating the same.

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of one awl unit and its operating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section of the adjustable anchor shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section of an awl and, in elevation, the needle cooperating therewith to show how the awl opens a passage in the base fabric for the needle and guides it through.

Fig. 7 is a detail elevation looking from left to right in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7, but showing a slight modification, later again referred to.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged diagrammatic elevation showing how the parts cooperate, this being the first or starting position.

Fig. 10 is a iew similar to Fig. 9, but showing the parts in the second position.

Fig. 11 is a view similar toFigs. 9 and 10, but showing the parts in the third position.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Figs. 9, 10 and. 11, but showing the parts inthe fifth position (Fig. 1 showing them in the fourth position).

Fig. 13 shows the parts in approximately the fifth position, when the awl is being used to perform its additional or third function (when one adjustable anchor is arranged to draw back one group of awls against the performance of their third function while the other awls are free to perform their third function).

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals and letters of reference designate like parts in all the figures, i represents the end frames of the machine, 2 the cross-bars thereof, and 3 a bar which connects the end frames i together.

Mounted in suitable bearings on the end frames i is a first motion shaft 4. Rock-shafts 5, 6, 8 and 9 are also mounted in suitable bearings and at suitable relative locations to perform properly their respective functions. To a fixedly mounted shaft 1 the sinker supports I2 are fastened. These supports 12 (any desired number) carry the bar H to .whichthe knock-over-sinkers iii are attached.

The sinker-nibs I3 are carried by a bar l4 fas tened to an arm i5 that is secured at H to the rock-shaft 8 (see Fig. 2).

The sinker-nibs i3 lie 9. distance above the knock-over-sinkers l0, sufficient to permit passage of the base fabric (designated in the drawings by a heavy dotted line BF). An arm i8 is secured, at 18, to the rock-shaft 4 and connected by arod to the actuating lever i9. The lever i9 has a hole 22 for the shaft 4 to pass through and it carries adjustable cam-contact rollers 23 to engage the sinker-nib actuating cam 2i, of suitable shape to efiect the desired movements of the sinker-nib.

The needle-bar carrying arm 24 is secured at 26 to the rock-shaft 5 and carries the ears 28 to which the needle bar 29 is secured. The needles 32 usually arranged in groups) are provided with a base for each group. The base 3| is suitably clamped between the needle bar 29 and the front clamp-plate 30.

The needles are operated in properly timed relation to the other elements by a cam 34 which acts on cam-contacting roller 33 carried by the operating arm which is secured, at 21, to the shaft 5 (see Fig. 3).

As best shown in Fig. 1, a beard-presser bar 35 is secured to an arm or arms 36 fastened to the rock shaft 9. The beard-presser-operating arm 39 is also secured, at 31, to the shaft 5 and at its lower end it carries a cam-contacting roller 40 that is' held in engagement with the beardpresser operating cam 4i by a spring 42, as shown.

By reference more particularly to Fig. 4 it will be seen that an arm (or arms) 46 is secured to the shaft 5 at one end, while an awl-bar carrying rocker is hingedor pivoted to the other end of the arm 46. This awl-bar carrying rocker 45 carries the awl bar 44 on which the awls 43 v (one for each needle 32) are mounted.

v Up and down motion is given the awls to cause them to pierce. the base fabric and return by means of an arm 41 secured to shaft 5 and operated by a cam 49 on the first motion shaft 4. the.

arm 41 being provided with suitable cam-contact rollers 48 adjustably mounted on the arm 41.

Each awl 43 is pointed, as at 50, and grooved as at 5| to receive its cooperating needle 23 (see Figs. 6 and 7). In order to cause the point of the awl to penetrate the base fabric and guard the needle in passing through, provision has been made to rock the rocker 45 toward the needle as the awl rises and away from the needle when the awls are in their initial or. rest position. This is accomplished by connecting the rocker 45,

through a light rod 52, which may be strapped at 53, to the adjustable anchor 54 which comprises a grooved disc suitably connected, adjustably, on a shaft 55 driven in properly timed relation from the first motion shaft 4 by sprocket and chain connection 56-51, or other suitable means. When the anchor cams 54 areheld concentric with the shaft 55 all awls work in unison to perform all three of their functions, but when the cam 54 for one of the groups of awls is adjusted to a certain eccentric position the awls of that group are relieved of their third function and the needles come down with closed or opened beards, accordingly as 'to whether the beard presser 35 is used or not.

The base fabric BF is fed through the machine from left to right in Fig. 1, from a suitable.

roll support (not shown) step-by-step, by a suitable take-up means (not shown, but see my patent aforesaid).

The knitting threads are passed to their respective needles through the thread guides 58, as in my previous machine.

Operation Assume that the machine is to operate with the beard-presser bar 35 in use and the awls are to perform their first two functions only. With the parts positioned as in Fig. 9 (first position) the sinker nibs are advanced over the points of the awls 43 and needles 32 (Fig. 10).

The awls and needles now. rise together, the

thread from the guides 58. The awls having per-v formed their two-fold function, recede to their first position. The recessional movement of the awls may be timed to begin as soon "as the ends of the needles have passed through the base fabric, or it may be delayed and needles and awls may be timed to begin their ment at the same time.

As the needlescome down, the beard presser 35 closes the beard while it passes through the loop and the base fabric (see Fig. 12).

When, however, the awls are to perform the three functions, the awls will be timed not to recede until the needles are lowered enough for their beards. to again enter the grooves 5| and be pressed closed (see Fig. 13), whereupon the awls and needles return simultaneously to their first positions (Fig. 9).

From the above it will be seen that in using the awls as a means of puncturing or opening up needle passages in the base fabric, the same may be used as beard pressers by changing the motion in a manner such that the awls will be left in the position of having penetrated the base fabric and the points of the awls left within or slightly above the sinker nibs. The needle beards in the downward movement of the needles will contact their awls (which are now beard pressers) to close the beards to pass through .the previ-.

ously'formed loops of the knitted stitcln No "diiliculty will be-experienced in passing the beards through the base material for the reason that the awls hold the base material open and the closed needle beards have only to pass through the yarn loops of the knitted stitch.

As before intimated'the timing may also be so arranged that after the needles have contacted the awls and beards are closed within the grooves of the needles, the motion'of the awls may proceed downward in tlmedrelation to the needle motion. In this way the needles contact the awls and awls and needles proceed in the downward motion; therefore there is no rubbing of the beards within the awl grooves and wear on the needles is reduced to a minimum;

As before indicatedselected awls may also be so actuated as to have imparted to them a slight backward movement from the needle beards which will permit the needles to complete their courses and not discharge the loops of the previously knitted stitch; this backward motion, al-

recessional moveto theextent that the awl will not penetrate a new portion of the base material on its next upward movement. When desired, the beard presser 35 may be arranged in separate selected sections and sep- "on the down strokes of the needles.

By these methods of adjustment and operation of the machine, many ornamentaleflects may be obtained, not heretofore found possible in a composite fabric.

While straight pointed awls 43 may be used and found satisfactory with certain sizes of needles and base fabric, yarn, etc., in order to ensure theopening of the base fabric between the same twoweft threads all along the line, I prefer to employ awls as shown in Fig. 8. Thus, if a weft thread should lie directly in the center line CL over the, awl (Fig. 8), it will be deflected to the proper side of the awl and needle, and'hit or miss? action will be avoided.

7 From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the'accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction operafion and advantages of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. The method of making a composite sheet of material in a knitting machine of the type which employs knock-over-sinkers, sinker-nibs and bearded knitting needles; said method consisting in passing a base sheet between the knockover-sinkers and the sinker-nibs during the knit.

, ting operation of the machine, and piercing the base sheet to provide needle passages in advance of the needles entryinto the base sheet.

2. The combination with a flat knitting machine which includes bearded knitting needles, knock-oversinkers, sinker-nibs, beard pressers.

' threadguides, means to pass a pre'viously formed" base sheet in the outgoing direction of the knitting between said knock-over-sinkers and said sinker-nibs, and means to operate said needles, knock-over-sinkers, sinker-nibs and beard pressers to effect the known knitting operation; of means to pierce the basesheet to provide needle passages in advance of the needles entering the base sheet.

3. The combination with a fiat knitting machine which includes bearded knitting needles, knock-over-sinkers, sinker-nibs, beard pressers, thread guides, means to pass a previously formed base sheet in the outgoing direction of the knitting between said knock-over-sinkersv and said [sinker-nibs, and means to operate said needles,

knock-over-sinkers, sinker-nibs and beard pressers to effect the known knitting operation; of

means to pierce the base sheet to provide needle for piercing; the base sheet in advance of the iii vlde needle passages for the needles, and means to effect the cooperative action of the. aforesaid parts for purposes described.

5. In a knitting machine the combination with knock-over-sinkers, sinker-nibs, bearded knitting needles and beard pressers, the knock-over-sinkers and sinker-nibs being spaced apart for Dassage of a base sheet between them, of means for piercing the base sheet in advance of the entry of the needles into the base sheet to provide needle passages for the needles, and means to effect the cooperative action of the aforesaid parts for, purposes described, said base sheet piercing means comprising awls. 1

6. In a knitting machine the combination with knock-over-sinkers, sinker-nibs, bearded knitting needles and heard pressers, the knock-over-sinkers and sinker-nibs being spaced apart for passage of -a base sheet between them, of means for piercing the base sheet in advance of the entry ofthe needles into the base sheet to provide needle passages for the needles, and means to effect the cooperative action of the aforesaid parts for purposes described, said base ,sheet piercing means comprising awls with needle receiving and guiding grooves.

7. In a knitting machine the combination with knock-,over-sinkers sinker-nibs, bearded knitting needles and beard pressers, the knock-over-sinkers and sinker-nibs being spaced apart for passage of a base sheet between them, of means for piercing the base sheet in advance of the entry of the needles into the base sheet to provide needle passages for the' needles, and means to effect the cooperative action of the aforesaid parts for purposes described, said beard pressers comprising means operating in the space between the elements of said""knock oVer-sinkers and said sinker-nibs.

8. In a knitting machine the combination with knockeover-sinkers, sinker-nibs, and bearded knitting needles, the knock-over-sinkers and sinkernibs being spaced apart for passage of a base sheet between them, of combined beard pressers and sheet piercing means for piercing the base "sheet in advance of the entry of the needles into the base sheet to provide needle passages for the needles, and means to effect the cooperative action of the aforesaid parts for purposes described, said beard pressers comprising means operating through the spaces between the elements of said knock-over-sinkers and said sinker-nibs.

9. In a knitting machine, a frame, a set of knock-over-sinkers mounted on'said frame, a set ofsinker-nibs, means to move said sinker-nibs above and parallel to said knock-over-sinkers, a

set of bearded needles movable up and down through the spaces between the elements of said knock-over sinkers and said sinker-nibs, beard pressers also operating in said spaces, means to actuate the aforesaid parts in timed relation to effect a knitting operation, there being a space entry of the needles-into the base sheet to pro-- between said knock-over-sinkers and said sinkernibs through which a. base sheet may be passed,

knock-over-sinkers and said sinker-nibs, there being a space between said kncck-over-sinkers and said sinker-nibs through which a base sheet may be fed, combined with a base sheet piercing and needle guiding means, and means to operate the aforesaid elements in harmony to eflect the knitting operation through said base sheet.

11. In a knitting machine, a frame, a set of knock-'over-sinkers mounted on said frame, a set of sinker-nibs, means to move said sinker-nibs above and parallel to said knock-over-sinkers, a set of bearded needles movable up and-down through the spaces between the elements of said knock-over-sinkers and said sinker-nibs, there being a'space between said knock-over-sinkers and said sinker-nibs through which a base sheet may be fed, combined with a base sheet piercing. needle guiding and beard pressing means, and means to operate the aforesaid elements in harmony to effect the knitting operation through said base sheet.

12. In a knitting machine, wherein is provided knock-over-sinkers and bearded knitting needles movable lengthwise up and down in the spaces between the elements of the knock-over-sinkers,

a combined awl and needle guide operating through said spaces.

13. In a knitting machine, wherein is provided knock-over-sinkers and bearded knitting needles movable lengthwise up and down in the spaces between the elements of the knock-over-sinkers, a combined awl, needle guide and beard presser operating through said spaces.

14. In a knitting machine, stationary knockover-sinkers, movable sinker-nibs cooperating therewith and spaced above the same to leave a passage for a base sheet over the knock-oversinkers, vertically movable bearded needles operating in the" spaces between said knock-oversinkers and said sinker-nibs, in combination with means to form passages through the base sheet in advance of the needles movement into and through the base sheet.

15. In a knitting machine, stationary knockover-sinkers, movable sinker-nibs cooperating therewith and spaced above the same to leave a passage for a base sheet over the knock-oversinkers, vertically movable bearded needles operating in the spaces between said knock-oversinkers and said sinker-nibs, in combination with means to form passages through the base sheet in advance of the needles movement into and through the base sheet, said means comprising vertically movable awls.

16. In a knitting machine, stationary knockover-sinkers, movable sinker-nibs cooperating therewith and spaced above the same to leave a passage for a base sheet over the knock-oversinkers, vertically movable bearded needles operating in the spaces between said knock-oversinkers and said sinker-nibs, in combinationwith means to form passages through the base sheet in advance of the needles movement into and through the base sheet, said means comprising vertically movable awls having needle guarding and guiding provisions.

1'7. In a knitting machine, stationary knockover-sinkers, movable sinker-nibs cooperating therewith and spaced above the same to leave a passage for a base sheet over the knock-oversinkers, vertically movable bearded needles operating in the spaces between said knock-oversinkers and said sinker-nibs, in combination with means to form passages through the base sheet in advance of the needles movement into and through the base sheet, said means comprising awls, a carrier for the awls, and means to cause selected awls to act also as beard pressers.

18. In a knitting machine, stationary knockover-sinkers, movable sinker-nibs cooperating therewith and spaced above the same to leave a Passage for a base sheet over the knock-oversinkers, vertically movable bearded needles operating in the spaces between said knock-oversinkers and said sinker-nibs, in combination with means to form passages through the base sheet in advance of the needles movement into and through the base sheet, said means comprising awls, a carrier for the awls, and means to cause selected awls to act also as beard pressers, said awls having needle guarding and guiding provisions.

19. In a knitting machine, stationary knockover-sinkers, movable sinker-nibs cooperating therewith and spaced above the same to leave a passage for a base sheet over the knock-oversinkers, vertically movable bearded needles operating in the spaces between said knock-oversinkers and said sinker-nibs, in combination with means to form passages through the base sheet in advance of the needles movement into and through the base sheet, said means comprising awls, an articulated carrier for the awls, and

means to operate said carrier to move the awls;

longitudinally.

20. In a knitting machine, stationary knock,- over-sinkers, movable sinker-nibs cooperating therewith and spaced above the same to leave a passage for a base sheet over the knock-oversinkers, vertically movable bearded needles operating in the spaces between said knock-oversinkers and said sinker-nibs, in combination with means to form passages throughthe base sheet in advance of the needles movement into and through the base sheet, said means comprising awls, an articulated carrier for the awls, and means to operate said carrier to move the awls longitudinally and rock the same toward and from the needle beards.

21. In a knitting machine, stationary knockover-sinkers, movable sinker-nibs cooperating therewith and spaced above the same to leave a passage for a base sheet over the knock-over sinkers, vertically movable bearded needles operating in the spaces between said knock-oversinkers and said sinker-nibs, in combination with means to form passages through the base sheet in advance of the needles movement into and through the base sheet, said means comprising awls, an articulated carrier for the awls, and means to operate said carrier to move the awls longitudinally, said carrier comprising pivoted arms, members pivoted to said arms and to which members said awls are secured, means to oscillate said pivoted arms, anchors and rods connecting said pivoted members to said anchors.

22. In a knitting machine, stationary knockover-sinkers, movable sinker-nibs cooperating therewith and spaced above the same to leave a passage for a base sheet over the knock-oversinkers, vertically movable bearded needles operating in the spaces between said knock-oversinkers and said sinker-nibs, in combination with means to form passages through the base sheet in advance of the needles movement into and through the base sheet, said means compris ing awls, an articulated carrier for the awls, and means to operate said carrier to move the awls longitudinally, said carrier comprising pivoted arms, members pivoted to said arms and to which members said awls are secured, means to oscillate said pivoted arms, anchors and rods connecting said pivoted members to said anchors, and means to adjust selected anchors to cause .certain awls to function as beard pressers while with mechanism including needles for knitting through a base sheet, 0! means operatingin advance of the needles to open needle passages through the base sheet while the base sheet is being passed through the machine.

25. In a knitting machine, thecombination with mechanism including needles Ior knitting through a base sheet, of means operating in advance of the needles to open needle passages through the base sheet, said means including sheet penetrating needle guards, having means to guide the active ends of the needles into the needle passages.

ROY C. AMIDON. 

